The Madness of King George (1994)

Director:

Nicholas Hytner

Writers:

Alan Bennett (play)
Alan Bennett (screenplay)

Release Date:

28 December 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | History

Tagline:

His Majesty was all powerful and all knowing. But he wasn't quite all there.

Plot:

A meditation on power and the metaphor of the body of state, based on the real episode of dementia experienced...

Plot Keywords:

England | Porphyria | King George III | King | Medical Profession

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 15 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Nigel Hawthorne	...	King George III
Helen Mirren	...	Queen Charlotte
Ian Holm	...	Dr. Francis Willis
Rupert Graves	...	Robert Fulke Greville
Amanda Donohoe	...	Lady Elizabeth Pembroke
Rupert Everett	...	Prince of Wales
Julian Rhind-Tutt	...	Frederick, Duke of York
Julian Wadham	...	William Pitt Jr.
Jim Carter	...	Charles James Fox
Geoffrey Palmer	...	Warren
Charlotte Curley	...	Amelia
Anthony Calf	...	Fitzroy
Matthew Lloyd Davies	...	Papandick
Adrian Scarborough	...	Fortnum
Paul Corrigan	...	Braun
John Wood	...	Thurlow
Nick Sampson	...	Sergeant At Arms
Jeremy Child	...	Black Rod
Nicholas Selby	...	Speaker
Barry Stanton	...	Sheridan
Struan Rodger	...	Dundas
Janine Duvitski	...	Margaret Nicholson
Caroline Harker	...	Mrs. Fitzherbert
Iain Mitchell	...	Farmer
Roger Hammond	...	Baker
Celestine Randall	...	Lady Adam
Cyril Shaps	...	Pepys
Michael Grandage	...	Amputee
James Peck	...	Willis' Attendant
Clive Brunt	...	Willis' Attendant
Fergus Webster	...	Willis' Attendant
Barry Gillespie	...	Willis' Attendant
Joe Maddison	...	Willis' Attendant
Selina Cadell	...	Mrs. Cordwell
Dermot Keaney	...	Footman
Peter Woodthorpe	...	Clergyman
Robert Swann	...	1st MP (as Robert Swan)
Alan Bennett	...	2nd MP
Collin Johnson	...	MP
Roger Ashton-Griffiths	...	MP
David Leon	...	Footman
Martin Julier	...	Footman
Dan Hammond	...	Footman
Nicholas Irons	...	Footman (as Nick Irons)
Peter Bride-Kirk	...	Royal Child
Eve Camden	...	Royal Child
Thomas Copeland	...	Royal Child
Joanna Hall	...	Royal Child
Cassandra Halliburton	...	Royal Child
Russell Martin	...	Royal Child
Natalie Palys	...	Royal Child
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Royston Munt	...	Horse Stunts (uncredited)

Directed by
Nicholas Hytner

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Alan Bennett		play "The Madness of George III"
Alan Bennett		screenplay

Produced by
Mark Cooper	....	line producer
Stephen Evans	....	producer
David Parfitt	....	producer

Cinematography by
Andrew Dunn

Film Editing by
Tariq Anwar

Casting by
Celestia Fox

Production Design by
Ken Adam

Art Direction by
Martin Childs		(supervising art director)
John Fenner

Set Decoration by
Carolyn Scott

Costume Design by
Sue Honeybourne
Mark Thompson

Makeup Department
Helen Barrett	....	makeup artist
Françoise Cresson	....	makeup artist
Helen Johnson	....	makeup artist
Di Roberts	....	makeup artist
Deborah Taylor	....	senior makeup assistant
Lisa Westcott	....	hair designer
Lisa Westcott	....	makeup designer
Karen Cohen	....	make-up and hair artist (uncredited)

Production Management
John Bard Manulis	....	executive in charge of production: Samuel Goldwyn Films (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tariq Anwar	....	second unit director
Paul Higgins	....	third assistant director
Finn McGrath	....	second assistant director
Jez Murrell	....	third assistant director
Stuart Renfrew	....	third assistant director
Mary Soan	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jason Babcock	....	plasterer
Nathan Batterbee	....	stagehand
Ronald Bede	....	chargehand stagehand
John Behan	....	carpenter
Malcolm Bensted	....	stand-by propman
Thomas Alexis Bhanji	....	construction runner (as Tom Bhanji)
Roy Biggs	....	stagehand
Leith Boler	....	props buyer
Dennis Bosher	....	draughtsman
Dave Buckingham	....	carpenter
Bob Cann	....	carpenter (as Robert Cann)
Eamon Cann	....	carpenter
Alan Cheevers	....	plasterer
Jane Clark	....	storyboard artist
John Clements	....	art stand-by
Darren Conway	....	plasterer laborer
Tony D'Amato	....	carpenter
Bill Dady	....	stagehand
Trevor Dyer	....	carpenter
Paul Garner	....	storyboard artist
Anthony Goddard	....	painter (as Tony Goddard)
Lee Goddard	....	painter
Jane Henwood	....	art department assistant
Matthew Higgins	....	painter
Kevin Huse	....	stagehand
Mark Impey	....	stand-by stagehand
Bryce Johnston	....	carpenter (as Bruce Johnston)
David Jones	....	stagehand
Maurice Jones	....	property master
Richard Jones	....	carpenter
Reginald Keywood	....	carpenter
Reginald Keywood	....	chargehand carpenter (as Regininald Wood)
Sabrina Lamonica	....	art department assistant
Bernard Leadbitter	....	carpenter
Mark Lee	....	plasterer
Bill Lowe	....	stand-by painter
Peter Mackey	....	plasterer
Roy Martin	....	painter
Binky Morrice	....	art stand-by
Philip Morris	....	stagehand
Jim Parker	....	stand-by propman
David Pitt	....	carpenter
Ken Powell	....	supervising plasterer
Doug Purdy	....	props storeman
Mark Raggett	....	stand-by art director
Robert Ramsey	....	plasterer
Simon Reeves	....	carpenter
Eric Regan	....	supervising painter
Syd Regan	....	painter (as Sidney Regan)
Anthony Rhone	....	painter (as Tony Rhone)
Bob Rose	....	plasterer (as Robert Rose)
Richard Shackleton	....	supervising carpenter
John Siddall	....	draughtsman
Vic Simpson	....	construction coordinator
Danny Skundric	....	dressing propsman
Anita St. John	....	art stand-by
John Starkey	....	painter laborer
Andrew Tombs	....	plasterer
Des Wallace	....	carpenter
Stephen T. Walsh	....	plasterer laborer (as Steven Walsh)
Steve Watts	....	plasterer (as Stephen Watts)
Jamie Wilkinson	....	propman
John Woods	....	plasterer
Steve Wotton	....	carpenter
Edwin Young	....	stand-by carpenter
Steven Sallybanks	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Christopher Ackland	....	supervising sound editor
Roy Baker	....	foley artist
John Casali	....	sound recordist
Clive Copland	....	sound maintenance engineer
David Crozier	....	sound mixer
David Crozier	....	sound
Graham Farrow	....	assistant foley editor
Stan Fiferman	....	foley editor
Pat Gilbert	....	assistant dialogue editor
Dominic Lester	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Margoschis	....	sound atmosphere
Robin O'Donoghue	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jean Sheffield	....	foley artist
Jim Shields	....	dialogue editor
Elaine 'Chucks' Thomas	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Alastair Vardy	....	special effects technician
Stuart Conran	....	special effects makeup (uncredited)
Dave Crownshaw	....	snow effects supervisor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Peter Govey	....	opticals
Kent Houston	....	visual effects
Nigel Stone	....	visual effects: VistaVision
Jonathan Taylor	....	visual effects: VistaVision
Dean Yurke	....	digital artist

Stunts
Wayne Michaels	....	stunt coordinator
Gareth Milne	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Alex Bailey	....	still photographer
Keith Batterbee	....	rigger
Jim Beeby	....	gaffer
Steve Brooke Smith	....	focus puller: second unit (as Stephen Brook-Smith)
Trevor Coop	....	camera operator: second unit
David Cozens	....	clapper loader: second unit
Mike Frift	....	camera operator: second unit
Pat Garrett	....	grip: second unit
Robert Gurney	....	rigger
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer
Philip Hill	....	camera trainee
Sid Hinson	....	rigger
Mike House	....	key grip
Ian Jackson	....	camera operator: second unit
Nigel Kirton	....	Steadicam operator
Brad Larner	....	focus puller
Simon Mills	....	focus puller: second unit
Jimmy Mullins	....	grip: second unit
Nick Penn	....	second assistant camera
Ronnie Rampton	....	best boy
William Richards	....	stand-by rigger (as Bill Richards)
Bill Sansom	....	chargehand rigger
Mel Sansom	....	rigger
Colin Strachan	....	grip: second unit
Brian Taylor	....	grip: second unit
David Toft	....	video operator
Robert Toft	....	video operator: second unit
John Turner	....	electrician
Patricia Van Over	....	first assistant camera (as Pattie Vanover)
George White Jr.	....	electrician (as George White)
Paul Wood	....	electrician
Danny Young	....	electrician
Alan Grayley	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sasha Robertson	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jenny Adely	....	milliner
Kate Allen	....	costume maker
William Baboo	....	costume maker
Steve Barrett	....	milliner
Irene Bohan	....	assistant costume designer
Anthony Brookman	....	wardrobe master
Naomi Critcher	....	production wardrobe
Ronald M. Davis	....	costume maker (as Ron Davis)
Judith Edgley	....	wardrobe
Lucy Gaiger	....	milliner
Amanda Hall	....	costume maker
Victoria Harwood	....	costume assistant
Sue Honeybourne	....	costume supervisor
Naomi Isaacs	....	costume maker
Sacha Keir	....	costume maker
Anna Kot	....	wardrobe mistress (as Anna Koy)
Jane Law	....	costume maker
Peter Lewis	....	costume maker
Sue Long	....	costume maker
Debbie Marchant	....	costume maker
Sabine McCrudden	....	costume maker
Lorraine McKee	....	milliner
Stephen Miles	....	costume assistant
Steve Pokol	....	costume assistant
Howard Rayner	....	milliner
Lorraine Richards	....	milliner
Meinir Roberts	....	costume maker
Alan Selzer	....	costume maker
Frank Simon	....	costume assistant
Brigid Strowbridge	....	costume maker

Editorial Department
Jeff Chaves	....	colorist (digital color correction)
Christopher Lloyd	....	first assistant editor
John Stanborough	....	color grader
Adrian Trent	....	second assistant editor
Sylvia Wheeler	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Raul Diaz	....	musician: Baroque Horn
George Fenton	....	adapter and arranger: Music of George Frideric Handel
Keith Grant	....	music recordist
Isobel Griffiths	....	music contractor
George Frideric Handel	....	music by
Nicholas Kraemer	....	conductor
Chris O'Neal	....	musician: Oboe
Adrian Thomas	....	music post-production
Adrian Thomas	....	musician: synthesizer
Eliza Thompson	....	music supervisor
Christopher Lloyd	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Dominic Barlow	....	driver
Tony Bird	....	transportation manager
John Clarke	....	driver: bus dining
Stephen Cranny	....	driver
Mike Cuddy	....	driver: props car
Peter Gristwood	....	driver: props stand-by car
David Kipling	....	driver: wardrobe car
Joanna Lipper	....	driver
Richard Maurice	....	driver: crowd car
Cliff Raddley	....	driver: camera car
Simon Saunders	....	unit driver
Charlie Simpson	....	driver: road train
Brian Skeels	....	driver: make-up car
Terry Tapping	....	unit driver
John Vaughan	....	driver: bus dining
John Vaughan	....	driver: bus dining
Mark White	....	driver: construction car

Other crew
Dominic Barlow	....	runner
Bill Barringer	....	location finder
Liz Barron	....	financial consultant
Miles Barton	....	researcher
Thomas Alexis Bhanji	....	runner
Jean Bourne	....	script supervisor
Claire Chapman	....	production assistant
Cleone Clarke	....	floor runner
Paola Colpani	....	accountant
Stephen Cranny	....	runner
Frances Delmar-Morgan	....	production runner
Andrew Fox	....	military advisor
Joe Friedman	....	location scout
Francesca Gentili	....	production assistant
Jonathan Glendening	....	assistant to director
Dave Goodey	....	horse coordinator
Peter Govey	....	title designer: main title
Line Hilton	....	nurse
Vivien Jordan	....	production coordinator
Debbie Kaye	....	horse coordinator (as Debby Kaye)
Julie Linnane	....	accounting assistant
Joanna Lipper	....	runner
Michael Mendelsohn	....	production financing
Rachel Neale	....	location manager
Ron Nichols	....	machinist
Fran Robertson	....	location manager (as Francesca Robertson)
Patric Scott	....	unit publicist
Brian Shemmings	....	health advisor
Brian Shemmings	....	safety advisor
Ron Stenner	....	medical advisor
Amanda Stevens	....	assistant location manager
Harry Teacher	....	assistant: Mr. Adam
Peter Thompson	....	press representative
Jean-Pierre Verard	....	production staff

Production Companies

• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The (present)
• Channel Four Films (present)
• Close Call Films

Distributors

• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• Hallmark Home Entertainment (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Concorde-Castle Rock/Turner (1995) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Mundial Films (1995) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Nea Kinisi (1995) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (1995) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sociedad Kino Visión (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (Hong Kong)
• Gativideo (1996) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Malofilm Home Video (1995) (Canada) (VHS)
• Nea Kinisi Video (1996) (Greece) (VHS)
• Orion Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (Australia) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Snow Business International
• Vendetta FX

Other Companies

• National Theatre  original stage production
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Set Meals  catering
• Shepperton Studios  filmed at

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS (8 channels) | Dolby SR

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIA | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Arundel Castle, Arundel, West Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Trivia:

One bit of business that failed to survive the transition from stage to film: Pitt's drinking. While in the film George III briefly mentions Pitt's drinking habits to his wife, on stage, as Alan Bennett puts it, "Pitt takes a swig from a hip flask, such a regular feature of his behaviour it is not noted in the stage directions." (The historical Pitt was considered a heavy drinker even by eighteenth-century standards, especially as he got older; modern biographers agree that his alcohol intake probably contributed to his early death.)

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lady Pembroke first discusses Dr. Willis with Pitt, Pitt reaches out for Lady Pembroke's note twice.

Quotes:

Fox:God rot all royals! Give us the wisdom of America!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Striking Range (2006)

Soundtrack:

Zadok the Priest

"I have you in my eye, Sir"

A great performance from Nigel Hawthorne makes this movie very enjoyable. His portrayal of the 'Mad King' is in turns entertaining, poignant, sharp, and commanding. The rest of the cast back him up well. The conversion from stage play to screen works well here... the production design is excellent, and the direction is dynamic enough to ensure that the movie never drags. Best of all though is Alan Bennett's script which is full of wonderfully comic and intelligent soundbites. This is a sumptuous period drama which is never too intense, but at the same time never too pithy, and it makes for very pleasant viewing. The film never takes itself too seriously or gets bogged down - after all, what other 18th century costume drama can boast such lengthy discourse regarding the constitution of a British monarch's fetid stools?